26. Rei
A sleek black town car pulled into my driveway the next morning. For the first time in years, George wasn’t behind the wheel.
I grabbed my vintage Fendi purse off the coffee table and wrapped a red and white Hermés shawl around my shoulders to go with my white, midi-length sweater dress.
Feeling put together and ready for a date with a billionaire, I tucked a trench coat over my arm and hurried outside to find Quentin leaning against the car, waiting for me.
Of course I noticed his fashion. The dark-brown denim with a plaid shirt and dark caramel-brown vest looked good on him. Especially accessorized with light brown sunglasses, a shining watch on his wrist, and gold rings on multiple fingers.
“I need to meet your stylist,” I said. “She’s doing the Lord’s work.”
He chuckled, the sound a warm, low rumble that made butterflies lift in my stomach. “Good to see you too.”
Sarcastically, I said, “Fine, good morning.”
He held the door open for me and stood aside so I could get in. Brushing past him, the subtle hint of his cologne filled my nose, and it took all my willpower not to sniff him again. Damn, he smelled good. Did he also have a professional perfumer?
Unaware of my internal monologue, he shut the door behind me and walked around to the other side of the car. While he did, I said to the driver, “Hi, I’m Rei. What’s your name?”
The guy seemed surprised to hear me speaking to him. “I’m, uh, Divian. You can call me Divi. Nice to meet you.”
I smiled at him and then looked over at Quentin as he got in. Divian fell silent, pulling the car out of the drive. Was there a no-talking rule or something?
Quentin reached to the cup carrier in between the front two seats. “Dirty chai?”
“My favorite,” I said, reaching for it. How many men had I been out with who forgot my drink order or even what I said seconds after it slipped out my mouth? “Thank you,” I said, gratefully. “I’m sure I’m going to need the caffeine for wedding planning.”
He nodded like he agreed. We had five days until “I do” and a million decisions to make. I was already toying around a green color scheme. Jada would look so good in a green dress, if she agreed to be my maid of honor. We hadn’t exactly left things on the best terms though.
Guilt swirled through my gut. After talking with Quentin last night, I realized how keeping secrets had become my default, but so much was in the open now between Jada and me.
I didn’t want to lose our friendship just because we didn’t know how to act perfectly when dealing with such a strange circumstance.
I dug my phone out of my purse and sent a text to Jada.
Rei: Do you have time to talk tonight? I can come over.
Jada: Bryce says I should get out of the house. Can we go out to supper?
Rei: Let’s do it.
I sent her another text with a restaurant I knew she’d love and then tucked my phone away. My stomach knotted with nerves because I had so much to tell her, but I tried to focus my attention on Quentin instead.
“Can we talk?” I mouthed, then dipped my head toward Divi.
Quentin held up a finger, then got out his phone. He opened his notes app and tapped out a message. He can’t know it’s fake.
“Ah...” I reached for his hand, half an excuse to examine his jewelry, half a ploy to make our relationship seem real. George always told me how guys at the agencies talked. “What type of groom are you planning to be?” I asked. “The kind who lets the woman decide everything?”
Quentin looked at our hands, the path of my fingers twisting the rings on his large fingers. “I’m the kind of groom who wants to make you happy.”
Butterflies lifted in my stomach. I glanced up at him to check and found nothing but the truth in his depthless brown eyes. It seemed I could look into the pools forever and still find more to discover.
“What would make you happy?” he asked.
I twisted my lips to the side, then held up his hand to show the golden watch at the end of his sleeve. “A Rolex should do,” I teased.
“Done,” he said seriously. He got out his phone and started texting.
“No, I didn’t mean—”
But the car stopped, and Divian rushed to open the door for me. I stepped out and thanked him, looking around. We were at a high-end shopping district with elite brand names on storefronts all around us.
We stood in front of a jewelry store, and my eyes zoomed into the display of shimmering jewelry in the window like they had been magnetized.
Quentin joined me on the sidewalk, saying, “I thought we should start with the ring.”
My gaze stayed on the display, taking in the stunning accessories. “You’re a smart man.”
His lips twitched, pleased.
I started toward the front door, but he caught my elbow, leaning in close to whisper, “You should know, when we leave here, our secret will be out. The owner of the Diamonds and MyHome CFO shopping for a wedding ring with you will make the news, whether we want it to or not.”
My throat felt dry. “Really?” I asked, voice cracking. I still hadn’t told Jada or my parents. In fact, I had no idea how I’d break the news to my family, but a news article surely couldn’t be the best option. Not to mention, he’d told me we’d be in danger as soon as word of our engagement got out.
I turned away from the jewelry case and met his worried gaze. “Maybe we should have a jeweler come to us... to protect our safety.”
A disappointed expression took over his features, but he quickly recovered to his typical impassive expression. “I understand.”
We turned and walked back to the car. Divian looked confused, but he held the door open for me regardless. With all of us back inside, Divi asked, “Where to next, sir?”
“Elsie Adams's office,” Quentin said, and the car took off.
“Divi, how do you know where to go?” I asked.
“Is there a secret GPS, or have you memorized the entirety of Dallas?” It seemed impossible, but I was ready to quiz him about his eidetic memory and suggest he try out for Jeopardy.
George always knew where to go, but I was boring.
Home, work, airport, office. Not much to memorize there.
Divi chuckled. “No one’s asked me that before.” He turned onto the main road and then said, “I review the calendar for the day and memorize the fastest routes. Since Quentin takes calls on the road, the GPS directions could be distracting.”
I raised my eyebrows, impressed. “Nice.”
Divi gave me a pleased smile in the mirror, big enough for me to get a glimpse of one silver tooth toward the back of his mouth. “I try,” he said humbly.
Quentin, meanwhile, looked at me with furrowed brows. “How do you do that?” he murmured.
“What?” I asked.
“Talk to everyone so easily?”
I huffed out a laugh. “I practiced with my stuffies, remember?”
He cracked a smile, but then he said, “I see.”
Just a few minutes later, we arrived at a large building with wedding dresses in the window, along with a tiered wedding cake and a display of invitations. Above the display windows, sweeping black letters spelled Elsie Adams, Wedding Planner.
This time, when we got out of the car, I put on my sunglasses and tugged up my scarf to hide as much as possible.
With Conrad spying on me and threats against MyHome in my mind, I thought it better safe than sorry.
My heart rate kicked up and stayed high until we were inside and safely in Elsie’s office with curtains covering the windows.
When I thought of wedding planners, I imagined pageant queens who reveled in the showmanship of a modern American wedding.
But Elsie was a petite brunette dressed simply in all black clothes, tortoiseshell glasses heavy on her nose.
Her face was all natural, either bare or done to look that way.
She gave us a warm smile and said, “Congratulations on the big day!”
I smiled, and Quentin said, “Thank you, Elsie. We liked the work you did for Bryce and Jada. I’m grateful you could work such a quick timeline.”
“We like to make magic around here,” she said with a wink, although I’m sure Quentin had paid handsomely for her to cast her spells.
“Let’s get started...” She pulled a binder from below her desk and put it on the table. In the front plastic cover, it said VENUES in the same script font from the front of the building. “Weddings are all about the five Ws. Who, What, When, Where, and Why. Let’s start with Where.”
Quentin looked to me, and my cheeks heated because my answer wasn’t remotely helpful.
“I always thought I’d get married in Paris with a view of the Eiffel Tower.
You know, the city of love, but with flight times and Q’s schedule...
” I twisted my lips to the side. “I guess we’ll have to find a backup. ”
A slow smile spread across Elsie’s face. “You know, France might be too far away. But Paris, Texas, we can do.”
A laugh escaped my mouth, but she continued, “There’s an event center there, and you can see the tower. I might be able to pull some strings if you’re not a fan of the cowboy hat on top.”
Quentin said, “I’m okay with that if that’s what Rei prefers.”
They both turned to me. “You’re saying I can still get married in Paris?
” It was silly, growing attached to a wedding location without even having a fiancé, but the little girl in me didn’t want to give it up.
An unexpected well of emotion built in my chest, making my eyes sting.
So much of my life had not gone as planned.
But getting this part, Quentin’s willingness to do what it took to make it happen…
It was a lot. I blinked back tears. “I’d love that,” I managed.
Elsie nodded. “Let’s move on to the other details.”
Just like that. Wow.
A girl could get used to a man who would spare no expense to make her happy.
“What about the guest list?” Elsie asked. “Once I get the names, I can have a courier deliver invitations.”
Quentin rattled off a list of names I recognized as his co-founders and family. Then he waited for me. “Can you give me two invitations, and I’ll deliver them?” I wasn’t sure how I’d deliver the news that I was getting married, much less that my wedding was in a handful of days.
“Only two?” Quentin asked with a crease in his brow.
My lips twisted to the side. “I like to keep my circle small.”
Elsie nodded, scribbling something in her notebook. “I’ll just need their names for the seating chart.”
I nodded, my stomach curling uncomfortably as I listed off the names.
Quentin had so much faith in his family's support, yet I wasn’t sure mine would want to be there at all.
I could just picture my mother’s reaction, telling me that I was impulsive.
My dad quoting phrases from the Bible on the sanctity of marriage.
My brother sighing and shaking his head.
Eleanor wondering how she could possibly get Lulu a flower girl dress in time.
I tried to hide my feelings while we carried on. There was no use worrying over what couldn’t be changed, and that category certainly included my family.
In the next few hours, we went through every detail possible, some I’d never even considered.
Although Quentin wanted to make me happy, he didn’t just sit back and put all the weight of the decisions on my shoulders.
He gave his opinion, helped pick when I had no preference, and even showed his thoughtfulness by making sure there were vegan meal options for his friend Aaric.
As his bride-to-be, I was relieved that he kept showing me that he was a kind, caring man.
As a business owner, I automatically guessed the cost of it all.
Last-minute cake tasting. Rush printing for hand-delivered invitations.
Centerpieces with fresh sunflowers, imported from another country because they were out of season here.
But that turned out to be the least of the expenses.
When we finished going through the details, Elsie said, “The designer is in the back for you, Quentin.”
My eyebrows furrowed as I looked over to him. “Designer?”
Gripping my hand, he said, “Come with me.”
We walked down the hall, past offices and meeting rooms, until we reached two heavy metal doors.
He tugged one open and held it for me. I stepped through the doorway, staring at the warehouse-style room.
Colorful bolts of fabric on giant rolling carts were on one side.
Tables with sewing machines stood on the other.
Several employees worked with fabric on half a dozen mannequins and sizing busts.
But then my eyes bugged out as I saw the person walking toward us, dressed in all black with their signature pink measuring tape hung around their neck.
“Is that Ambrosia?” I hissed, taking them in.
A waist apron stuffed with supplies sat low on their broad hips, and their natural, coily hair was cut short to their head, bleached white in contrast to their light brown skin.
Quentin said to them, “Thanks for joining us, Ambrosia.”
They cracked a smile, showing diamond-studded canines. “It’s nice to meet you. Let’s get started with your measurements to fit your wedding dress and design the rest of the line.”
I gaped from her to Quentin. “Wedding dress? Rest of the line?” I couldn’t be hearing what I thought I was hearing. My favorite plus-size fashion designer was working on my wedding dress?
Quentin wore one of those rare, genuine smiles as he squeezed my hand. “You deserve a dress that fits the way you want and a closet full of clothes designed just for you. I saw your post about Ambrosia. Luckily, they were available for the project.”
“But...” I murmured. “The cost.” A wedding dress, let alone an entire line of clothes, had to be a fortune, even to someone as wealthy as Quentin.
Ambrosia excused themselves to talk with a worker in the room while Quentin responded. “My money will look better on your beautiful body than in my bank account.”
My lips twitched into a disbelieving smile.
“Besides, plus-size fashion is a good investment.” He tugged at the lapels of his shirt. “Perhaps they’ll design a line for men next.”
“Quentin... I don’t know what to say.”
“Say you like it,” he said, and I noted a little vulnerability in his voice.
I lifted to my tiptoes and pressed my lips to his cheek. It felt warm, slightly scratchy under my lips with the promise of his five o’clock shadow. “Thank you,” I breathed in his ear.
His arm curled around my waist, palm splayed at the low of my back, making heat bloom up my spine. In a husky voice, he uttered, “Anything for my future wife.”
Ambrosia cleared their throat. “Sorry, but we have a lot of work to do.”
“Okay,” Quentin rumbled. He turned to me, saying, “I’m meeting my friends to tell them about us. You ready for this?”
His words snapped me back to reality. In less than a week, I’d be married in a dream wedding dress. I’d have a chance to be with Quentin. And finally, my company would be safe.
No matter how crazy it sounded, I said, “I’m ready.”